Paul Arenson, Tokyo based songwriter sang these songs opening for David Rovics in the Spring of 2008 at Heaven's Door in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo.

All songs Copyleft Paul Arenson unless otherwise noted


Bar at Midnight

In the bar at midnight
The poet-drunkard spins a song of torture and of tears
Of lovelessness and sleeplessness, empty beds and regiments
Wasted bones and fear

There are tears enough for refugees
Of lives lost to the crimes
Of soldier, statesman, citizen
But no soul cries for lives deprived of loving

And in the corner of the bar
The poet's pen bleeds whiskey on the wood that turns the world upon its head
To marry death and dreaming
To weave the notion that in both loveless nights and lifeless hearts
There's weeping and the suffering thread's the same

Luang Prabang (Pat Sky)

When I came back from Luang Prabang
I didn't have a thing where my balls used to hang,
But I got a wood medal and a fine harangue.
Now I'm a fucking hero.

Mourn your dead land of the free!
If you want to be a hero follow me.
Mourn your dead land of the free!
If you want to be a hero follow me.

And now the boys all envy me:
I fought for Christian Democracy
With nothing but air where my balls used to be.
Now I'm a fucking hero

Mourn your dead land of the free!
If you want to be a hero follow me.
Mourn your dead land of the free!
If you want to be a hero follow me.

When one and twenty cannon thunder
Into the bloody wild blue yonder
For a patriotic ball-less wonder.
Now I'm a fucking hero.

Mourn your dead land of the free!
If you want to be a hero follow me.
Mourn your dead land of the free!
If you want to be a hero follow me.

In Luang Prabang there is a spot
Where the corpses of your brothers rot,
And every corpse is a patriot,
And every corpse is a hero.

Mourn your dead land of the free!
If you want to be a hero follow me.
Mourn your dead land of the free!
If you want to be a hero follow me.


Each Day is Different



Each day is different, unlike another
Even though there's sometimes sunshine
Even though there's often rain
Each one is different, unlike another
But like the moon's reflection in the sea it's not the same

And though the ocean's fingers in your hair may bring you memories of days
That you don't care to feel again for fear of pain, I understand, I think I do
Remember that all days are new that red and blue are not the same
Remember that my love for you is not the same as his was for you
Each day is different, each day is new....

Each time is different unlike another
Even though these fingers flowing free a fire that feels familiar
Each one is different, unlike another
But in the mirror of your memories I can read his name

And oh I wish that I could reach inside your heart
And steal away the sadness and the past of pain he left behind
Remember that all days are new that red and blue are not the same
Remember that my love for you is not the same as his was for you
Each day is different, each day is new....


Ballad of Chong Gyan Young

Umareta tsuji kara
Dete ike to iu no ka
Sore wa tottemo
Fushigi na koto da

Where will you go Chong Gyan-yong?
This land's the only one you've known
Doko ni ike yoo?
It's your home, your only one

And Constant Louis, when his mother died
He couldn't leave to say good-bye
Moshi ittara, kaerenai
Hazubeki kotoba

Bokura ni oshiete
Naze kyouhi wa hanzai?
Jinshu sabetsu wa seifu no tsumi da
Dochi no hou ga okii no ka?

Umareta tsuchi kara
Dete ike to iu no ka
Sore wa tottemo
Hazubeki koto da

Winds of War

Listen do you hear
The drumbeat of fear?
For while we sleep they crawl and creep
And bring the winds of war

Beware the winds of war
You've heard their songs before
The words they speak conceal so sweet
The pain that lies in store

A smile in the eyes of the children
Brings joy to the heart but tears to the eye
Oh, can you remember the rain?
Can you remember the pain, oh the pain
That stole the smile from their eyes

Listen do you hear
The drumbeat grow near?
For while we thought they'd let them rot
They kept their swords and spears

A sword in the hands of your brother
Turns day into darkness and skies into fire
Oh, don't lend a hand to the flame
Don't be a part of the pain, oh the pain
That steals the smile from their eyes

Repeat 1


Don't feed the winds of war
Don't be deceived anymore
The words they speak conceal so sweet
The pain they have in store

A smile in the eyes of the children
Brings joy to the heart and peace to the land
Oh teach your daughters and sons to resist the sword and the drums, the nearing drums
And keep the smile in their eyes
Oh teach your daughters and sons to crush the sword and the drum, the bloody drum
And keep the smile in their eye

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